I plan to leave my mark on the baseball world; this is where it all begins.

Future Blog of the Red Sox Jumps to Number 13!

I think I’m going to make a habit of choosing pictures of Sesame Street characters for my number pictures.

This week was quite the week for me if you know what I mean. I didn’t realize how much it had tired me out, I took a four hour nap when I got home!

The best part of this week though, and the highlight of most of my days actually, is this blogging community. The encouragement I get from you guys is absolutely incredible. You guys really think I can do it! I get some support from my friends who I’ve known for at least five years, but getting all this unconditional support and faith from you guys– some of whom I’ve only known for a month, it really shows the kind of community that we’ve built here.

Skip this paragraph if you don’t want to read about the chemistry massacre I went through today (really, I won’t be offended). Not that I want to become a professional athlete, but chemistry just isn’t necessary to become a writer. It was the most ridiculous test that I’ve ever taken. One of the smartest girls in my class took her unfinished test to our teacher, and said: “I can’t do this, I have no idea what I’m doing.”. I made myself believe that I knew what I was doing, but in reality, I had never seen some of the stuff that was on this test. I had done so well on the quizzes and homework, that it was almost hysterical that I had no idea what I was doing. When the bell rang to end class, no one else had left. Everyone at the same time said, “I still have three [workout] problems left!!,” After a while, our teacher said,

“You guys have to leave, it’s unfair to the other students”

It was then that I made the mistake of opening my big mouth by saying, “This test is unfair,”. A mistake on my part admittedly, but to prove to you the legality of that statement, everyone immediately agreed.

After that, all I wanted to do was to go home and watch baseball. I didn’t want to think about anything else, or deal with anything else. I wanted to come home and just write.

Nevertheless, there were two really bright spots in the past two days. The Future Blog of the Red Sox came in at lucky number 13 in the latest leaders list! Did you see that Bigpapi72 jumped to number eight?? Plus, Tommy was kind enough to put me in his Timeout at the plate. If you haven’t checked out Tommy’s blog yet, you have to see the kind of journey he’s about to take. It’s the definition of inspirational

Unfortunately, no substantially good Red Sox players have ever worn thirteen so it’s kind of a tough dedication. It’s not like number nineteen where I had an abundance to choose from (Fred Lynn and Josh Beckett). I was hoping for at least number fifteen so I could dedicate the entry to Kevin Millar and Dustin Pedroia, but hey, I don’t mind scooting up two extra places. That makes me even happier.

But, since they are TWO players, and I moved up TWO extra spaces, I feel the right to dedicate fifteen to them.

Kevin Millar is the man who created the “Cowboy Up” rally cry. He was also the one to name the 2004 team the “idiots” and was always known for trying to keep loose spirits within the clubhouse. In fact, he tried to get the team to take a shot of whiskey before Game 7 of the ’04 ALCS (I believe) to loosen everyone up. He was definitely the jokester of the clubhouse, and is still loved and missed dearly by the clubhouse and the fans. In ’07 he came back to Fenway to throw out the first pitch and say the starting lineup. He has also been kind enough to lend his number, 15, to Dustin Pedroia. He made two appearances on the MLB Network in a suit, and I can definitely see him on that panel of analysts someday.

We have all heard about the iconic Dustin Pedroia and the many awards that he has accumulated over his first two years in Major League Baseball. The thing about the ‘Destroya’ is that he goes beyond the statistics. He has now established himself as the clubhouse jokester. He’s the one always hyping everyone up, the one cracking all the jokes He feigns cockiness but is probably one of the most approachable guys in baseball. He loves getting his uniform dirty, as he will slide unnecessarily into bases. He’s not really afraid of anyone; before game 5 of the ’07 ALCS he said, “I’m swinging the bat good, I don’t care what anybody says!”. I’m a huge fan of Pedroia, and I’m glad that he is happy in Boston.

Apparently, the Red Sox have an offer on the table for Jason Varitek. He already decline arbitration so if he wants to stay with the Red Sox, as he has stated, this is the offer to take because it doesn’t look like he’s going to get one from anyone else.

On to the Chemistry Test – let me offer you some advice we give our boys – there are some teachers, even when you know 90% of the stuff from class you will still fail because they will test on the other 10%….so – If your text book has problems in it – do every odd one whether assigned or not (this is a good study method for math also.) Also – and I am a FIRM believer in this – TAKE NOTES!!! There is a REAL connection between writing something down and remembering it. I took Chemistry in HS and in College (and heck – I was an accounting/poli sci double major) – it isn’t easy, but I have faith in you! Don’t let this teacher turn you off to it! Science Rocks! And congrats on lucky 13!

I’m happy for you that Dustin Pedroia is going to stay with the Red Sox. I like Pedroia too! He’s a great guy with great personality.
Chemistry sounds really boring! I can’t believe I have to take it too! Anyways, I totally agree with Julia. Don’t give up! You’re a great person. And congrats on making #13! You really deserved this. Love the picture btw🙂 http://hyunyoung.mlblogs.com

Huge congrats on the move up. Love the Sesame street pic… ahh, I miss the good old days watching that lol.
If you think your chem test was bad, my physics exam was a nightmare. My only savior was that there were some multiple choice questions so I know I didn’t get a zero… but yeah, these teachers, ugh.
I’ll deny I ever said this, but Dustin Pedroia is one of the few Red Sox players I’ve actually liked… maybe it’s because he has that youthful spirit, idk… but this confession shall never be mentioned again! Boo Red Sox! Lol.
– V [ http://flairforthedramatic.mlblogs.com ]

Congratulations on your ranking, Elizabeth. I don’t know how you find the time to blog with all the school pressures, but it’s great that you do. Good practice for when you’re a professional sportswriter facing deadlines!

As we used to say in college, “Twenty years from now you’ll never remember what you made on that Chemistry test, but you will remember the day your blog made #13.” Oh, wait maybe that was, “…you will remember the good time you had with your friends.” Same thing. Congrats on the new ranking!

Wow. That really sucks about your chemistry test. My history teacher tests us on random things like that. He hasn’t taught us a thing that’s going to be on the uniform final for this semester, so I’m just going to have to read the first half of the textbook.
And congratulations!! #13 is really awesome!!!!!http://imbringingdiamondback.mlblogs.com

First of all, love the Sesame Street picture! That’s amazing. Second of all, I cannot stand chemistry, mostly because a sports writer is NEVER going to use it. I was talking about that with someone last night; I think the only reason we as sports writers would need it is if we wanted to analyse an athlete’s sweat. Like, figure out what kind of chemicals are in sweat and stuff. And I know what you mean about how encouraging this place has been. It’s so amazing!! Have a great week!http://kaybee.mlblogs.com

Gah! I LOVE THE COUNT!!! Sesame Street is amazing, even when I’m 22. 🙂 I think your chemistry massacre is similar to my contracts final. Everyone came out of it with a look of “I don’t know what I just wrote down.” In law school, the grades HAVE to fit a bell curve (to spite us, I think), so even though I know that I totally bombed the final, as did most everyone else, I still managed to get a C+ in the class. It was ridiculous. I think the only classes that were beneficial to me in high school were Spanish and the one semester of cooking I got to take. I love cooking, so that was ridiculously fun. And considering I’ll be making a living as a sports lawyer, I’ll probably need Spanish. Most of my college classes weren’t even beneficial to what I’ll be doing for the rest of my life. But there’s no undergrad degree in “law,” so political science with a psychology minor is what I ended up with. Now that I’m out of college, I should have double majored in poly sci and theatre. The things I learn once it’s too late! Hahahaha!
Jenhttp://ajroxmywhitesox.mlblogs.com

After a “restful” few days away over the weekend, its great to be back blogging again here at mlb.com !!! … “Congratulations” [again] on your #13 ranking on the latest Leader’s List !!! … Like you said in your above post, there are “no substantially good Red Sox players who have worn number thirteen, so it was tough to make a dedication” … Your dedication to two #15 players, Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Millar, were good choices, though !!! … Elizabeth, I don’t know if you follow football at all, or if the Miami Dolphins are your favorite football team, but I was thinking a good dedication in honor of #13 would be in honor of the great Miami Dolphins quarterback, #13, Dan Marino … Anyway, keep up the great work as you continue moving up to the top of the Leader’s List !!! … Also, nice interview on Tom’s “Timeout At The Plate” series on his “Rocky Mountain Way” blog !!! … And, finally, the Yankees re-signed Andy Pettitte today; so, maybe, the Red Sox will re-sign Jason Varitek soon !!! … Jimmy [27NYY] http://baseballtheyankeesandlife.mlblogs.com/

Meta

The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions.